Buy or Build a computer

[WeldonWen]

My 3 years old pc slowly become a potato , really not comfortable on 3d animation software and gaming because of lag . So i decide to get a new pc .

but I confuse how should I get my new pc , should I buy one or build one ? is it cheaper if you build one yourself ? ( I know how to build pc )

[thekeemo]

Its much cheaper if you build your own

[alexhelvetica]

What is your computers specs.

 

This is a must, we don't want to get someone an i3 4150 when they have an Core 2 Quad extreme QX9775

[//FTP]

1. It is fun to build your own pc

2. Yes, it is cheaper

3. You can make it how you want it

[Redturtle098]

Buy a computer and you get warranty and you don't have to make it/ worry about the parts...

But making a computer you can make it your own and customise it and make it more powerful...

Your choice 

[manikyath]

its usually not that much cheaper to build your own pc, but if you build your own, you're sure of upgradability, and you know what components are inside, and you're sure they wont blow up on you. (i've seen system builders put chinese PSUs in systems, and then 10 years later people come to me with an issue, and i'm like *sniff* lets get that swapped out ASAP...)

[Lusin]

I hate pre-built PC's. As someone who used to have one I will reveal to you that they are made with the cheapest parts possible and sold at a ripoff price. If you build your own computer, you get much more performance for your money.

[WeldonWen]

1. It is fun to build your own pc

another word ? LEGO . right ?

[Orion3234]

1. It is fun to build your own pc

2. Yes, it is cheaper

3. You can make it how you want it

Yea, it's a lot of fun building your own machine and yes it is cheaper over time as you don't have to plop down so much money every 2 to 3 years for a new pre-built machine... I think 2 to 4 years is about how long a mass produced model will last you.

 

 

I hate pre-built PC's. As someone who used to have one I will reveal to you that they are made with the cheapest parts possible and sold at a ripoff price. If you build your own computer, you get much more performance for your money.

I agree with you 100%, they don't last half as long as you think they would... With a custom built one, you can choose your own parts and often can get good deals on parts.

[WeldonWen]

Yea, it's a lot of fun building your own machine and yes it is cheaper over time as you don't have to plop down so much money every 2 to 3 years for a new pre-built machine... I think 2 to 4 years is about how long a mass produced model will last you.

If you play lego before you know the feeling , build a pc ? same

[WeldonWen]

its usually not that much cheaper to build your own pc, but if you build your own, you're sure of upgradability, and you know what components are inside

my dad told me the same thing as you .

[WeldonWen]

I hate pre-built PC's. As someone who used to have one I will reveal to you that they are made with the cheapest parts possible and sold at a ripoff price. If you build your own computer, you get much more performance for your money.

yeah......company cant read your mind 

[Lusin]

Yea, it's a lot of fun building your own machine and yes it is cheaper over time as you don't have to plop down so much money every 2 to 3 years for a new pre-built machine... I think 2 to 4 years is about how long a mass produced model will last you.

 

 

I agree with you 100%, they don't last half as long as you think they would... With a custom built one, you can choose your own parts and often can get good deals on parts.

True. I love choosing my own parts because I will have a computer specifically catered to me and my needs. My pre-built pc had some crappy generic motherboard, integrated graphics and a fanless 250 watt power supply.

[Paytend01]

its usually not that much cheaper to build your own pc, but if you build your own, you're sure of upgradability, and you know what components are inside, and you're sure they wont blow up on you. (i've seen system builders put chinese PSUs in systems, and then 10 years later people come to me with an issue, and i'm like *sniff* lets get that swapped out ASAP...)

Its alot cheaper to build...

[Orion3234]

If you play lego before you know the feeling , build a pc ? same

Yea, I built this one earlier this year so theoretically, I should just have to plop down a dramatically reduced amount of money for extra parts like sound card or newer GPU/CPU or even a memory upgrade.

 

its usually not that much cheaper to build your own pc, but if you build your own, you're sure of upgradability, and you know what components are inside, and you're sure they wont blow up on you. (i've seen system builders put chinese PSUs in systems, and then 10 years later people come to me with an issue, and i'm like *sniff* lets get that swapped out ASAP...)

Yea... especially when a dying power supply can potentially take your whole system with it.

[TheMechEngineer]

There are companies out there that will build custom PCs for you, that's how I get my computers.

[hk29]

i say build.  cuz the amount of time looking into the parts of prebuilts is going to be the same as building one yourself.  but if u dont have the time or plain dont want to build then go find a pre built one that suits your needs.  if you got the money someone will sell u something.

[manikyath]

Its alot cheaper to build...

have you seen the price of some prebuilts?

 

i've seen some prebuilts cheaper than the price of the listed components...

[Paytend01]

have you seen the price of some prebuilts?

 

i've seen some prebuilts cheaper than the price of the listed components...

Ive seen like one lol... And i dont really trust ebay or craigslist

[manikyath]

Ive seen like one lol... And i dont really trust ebay or craigslist

it was in an electronics store, didnt even look like a shady machine either.

 

it looked better than the "300 dollar HP computer" carey holzman had his share of fun with.

 

off the top of my head it was an i3, 4GB ram (back when that was still acceptable) 1TB hard drive and an optical drive.

packed in a fully metal case, that actually looked rather professional and sturdy. - that was a few years ago, for €300-ish. (note that prices in EU are insanely higher than US)

[Paytend01]

it was in an electronics store, didnt even look like a shady machine either.

 

it looked better than the "300 dollar HP computer" carey holzman had his share of fun with.

 

off the top of my head it was an i3, 4GB ram (back when that was still acceptable) 1TB hard drive and an optical drive.

packed in a fully metal case, that actually looked rather professional and sturdy. - that was a few years ago, for €300-ish. (note that prices in EU are insanely higher than US)

Damn lol

[stconquest]

Buy a computer and you get warranty and you don't have to make it/ worry about the parts...

But making a computer you can make it your own and customise it and make it more powerful...

Your choice 

 

All your components have warranties, usually longer ones than a pre-built warranty.

 

it was in an electronics store, didnt even look like a shady machine either.

 

it looked better than the "300 dollar HP computer" carey holzman had his share of fun with.

 

off the top of my head it was an i3, 4GB ram (back when that was still acceptable) 1TB hard drive and an optical drive.

packed in a fully metal case, that actually looked rather professional and sturdy. - that was a few years ago, for €300-ish. (note that prices in EU are insanely higher than US)

 

i3 - 125

RAM (4GB) - 30

1TB HDD - 50

Proprietary Mobo - 40

Shitty PSU - 30

Shitty Case - 25-50

 

Total:  320

 

HP probably does it cheaper... so he got the PC at cost(cost = retailer's price to stock).

[manikyath]

Damn lol

http://de.pcpartpicker.com/p/HDzMkL

this is roughly a prebuilt i picked up to replace my old gaming rig that was literally falling apart.

- i7 4770

- it has *some* coolermaster cooler inside thats about 2-3 times the mass of a stock intel cooler, but is otherwise pretty similar.

- REALLY shady lga1150 motherboard, i just picked up the cheapest board on the list with 4 ram slots.

- the ram listed is actually the same dimms as are in the machine

- i was blown away to find there was a seagate drive in it... not that hard drive prices are anything to care about these days...

- that was the only GT640 with pricing, the one in my system has the most dodgy cooler ever, and has 4GB of DDR3 memory on board...

(i feel like those 4GB are the only reason the thing was that good at high resolutions...)

note that this is german pcpp, and the listing doesnt include a case, psu and optical drive. (because the psu may have been the dodgiest thing i've seen...)

and in belgium prices are about... 10-30% more expensive than in germany.

 

picked this thing up for €700, and have never had a problem with it. (at least none that werent my own fault)

[manikyath]

All your components have warranties, usually longer ones that a pre-built warranty.

 

 

i3 - 125

RAM (4GB) - 30

1TB HDD - 50

Proprietary Mobo - 40

Shitty PSU - 30

Shitty Case - 25-50

 

Total:  320

 

HP probably does it cheaper... so he got the PC at cost(cost = retailer's price to stock).

the thing about the machine that puzzled me.. is that it wasnt a shitty case... like at all..

 

like, for all i knew it might have been a rebranded corsair case...

[stconquest]

the thing about the machine that puzzled me.. is that it wasnt a shitty case... like at all..

 

like, for all i knew it might have been a rebranded corsair case...

 

Exactly why I said 25-50 euros... all depends on how HP went about making/ordering it.